All contestants for the 2016 Carnival Queen Competition have officially secured sponsorship.
This announcement was made by CEO of the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA), Colin Piper, at a press conference on Wednesday, while the Carnival Queen hopefuls were sashed at a ceremony, at the DFC’s office on Thursday.
Three of the sponsors were agents of the Citizenship by Investment Progam (CIP).
Judy Toussaint, of San Sauver, is sponsored by Harvey Law Group (agent of the CIP); Mernel Christmas, of Campbell, by Bayat (agent of the CIP); Nawana Shillingford, of Loubiere, by Dominica National Petroleum Co. Ltd. (DNPC); Britney Pharoah, of Grand Bay, by Range Development (agent of the CIP); Abigail Shillingford, of Goodwill by the Kalinago Barana Autê; and Tassia Floassaic, of Castle Comfort, by DNPC, and Universal Martial Arts Academy.
Dominica’s Ambassador to the OECS, Felix Gregoire who attended the ceremony, urged the contestants to be “good ambassadors,” not only for their sponsors but for the country on a whole.
“Let me now just encourage the young ladies to be ambassadors. You are all winners, in my estimation. You are all ambassadors and you have to project a positive image of your company and your sponsors, and of course, the country,” he said.
Much discussion has been held recently on the lack of sponsorship for the contestants.
And Kalinago Barana Aute sponsoring someone else instead of Tassia Flossac? Hmmm….
So much frustration before, debauchery during, a lot of regret after seems to be what carnival is all about.
I cannot imagine what these young ladies are feeling as they wait anxiously to see if they are going to be sponsored only to be rescued at the last minute by the government.
Then instead of people rejoicing with them we have the very people who should have been glad for them now bad mouthing those who came to their help because they disagree with the way they “sell” passports as that is their responsibility.
No matter what you people do to get happy it never seems to work.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
That’s a Labour Party queen show. Best they call it Miss Red instead!
And she finally smiled…
The tycoons of the passport industry have come forward..
When will CIP DO SOMETHING FOR dominica < un aMBASSADOR has fu llfilles all his dreams . What has he done for Dominica. Individuals are all gaining by the sellins of Passport but the Country is going down… I was borned and raised in Dominica and was never never like this. There are more poorer people there now than when I was growing up.All i do I pray for My Dominica every day.It is a Shame all these selected few are flowing in millions. One can see so much change in the other Islands and Dominica remains the same.
Joan we are all praying for Dominica. DA is the poorest island now but the politicians are the richest.
Passport money going into the wrong pockets instead of the treasury, yet we Dominicans are all blind to this, out PM is the greatest. The clock is ticking and soon we will have justice, they can’t stay in power for ever.
Your sponsors have stepped up to the plate. They deserve a resounding “Thank You!”
Contestants, I know you will get out there and perform your best. Have fun. Good luck!
The BIG BOYS of the passport industry have finally decided to flex their financial muscles, showing Dominicans where the BIG BUCKS are really being made. Although we are happy for the sponsorship and thank each of the sponsors on behalf of our Queen Contestants, we can’t help but notice how prosperous this passport selling business is for a chosen few. The majority of Dominicans will not see in one year the amount made from the sale of a single passport. The Citizenship by Investment Program is supposed to improve the lives of Dominican Citizens through employment, infrastructural advancements, support of entrepreneurship, educational support, medical advancements and the support of economic growth engines such as manufacturing, tourism, trade and agriculture. These benefits are yet to be seen. In return for selling away our sovereignty we receive tablets and the sponsoring of Carnival Queen Contestants. And…of course we’re satisfied…even grateful! Lord help us!!!
there is more important issues than that to address now,how does this help dominica stop
A more suitable headline would be “PASSPORT PUSHERS FINALLY SPONSOR CARNIVAL QUEEN CONTESTANTS”, whoa! Something is not right with this passport racket. How can I become a Passport Pusher? Just make me one and I can tell you by August 2016 I will have ALL the girls for 2017 sponsorship secured and I can promise you a real SPLASH for MAS 2017.
I am a hard working local girl, the daughter of a prominent, loyal, Red Army activist. Just give me the guidance right here on DNO and within weeks you will see how much money I bringing in. I have nothing to do with drugs but I can surely push some PASSPORTS. All I want for a start is 2 DIPLOMATIC RED ONES and 20 working class. Waiting!
A more suitable headline would be “PASSPORT PUSHERS FINALLY CAME CLEAN-EVEN IF MONEY IS DIRTY SPONSOR CARNIVAL QUEEN CONTESTANTS”, whoa! Something is not right with this passport racket. How can I become a Passport Pusher -ASK Being ME – potanse!
Speaking my mind, I find that the CIP took to long to do the honours they should have done it long time they are to selfish, for the whole year passport were being sold and only $25m went to the government treasury where did the rest went too,
Vince spoke about that this Morning where did the other $75m went to
zo ka sav an dedan Dominique sala
Why dont dfc get the young ladies earlier , allow the communities to sponser their contestant and get people more involved in the compettion.agreed with the blogger that people involved in c b i must begin to sponser activities in the country,especially for the young people.
Hmmm Are they fully sponsored or just partially sponsored?
Passport Money!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe business places are still using Tropical Storm Erica as an excuse to not sponsor those queens. However, I am absolutely dissapointed that just a few days before the show that only NOW the queens get sponsorship?
They were already being prepared. This should not keep them back. All that was required was the sponsorship.
I hope you know preparation takes a lot of finances, Mr. Face the Facts, so without full sponsorship they are limited and strained, and it makes a difficult situation, much, much more difficult. The girls have a team that they work with, they have to train, make appearances at various events and functions, they have to look good, put on a good appearance, they have to travel from location to location, all this and more requires finances, help and support. That’s why the contestants kept saying every little bit helps and besides looking for sponsorship, they were asking Dominicans to help in any way they could, no matter how bit or small. So yes, lack of sponsorship/funds would keep them back. Lets think of the big picture.
The agents selling our Dominica passports think that sponsoring a few young , beautiful women, excited in taking part in the Carnival Queen Pageant, will make patriotic Dominicans forget about that madness going on with our sacred document, our ordinary and diplomatic passports.
It is said that corruption permeates through societies, where poverty reigns. I remember Dudus “Coke and his control of that community in Jamaica although many knew he was involved in all kinds of illegal acts.
Sell passports. Make millions. No transparency. No accountability. The same agents and companies that only the patriotic investigators disclosed. That was secret until……
The interest is to legitimize the selling of our passports. To fool Dominicans, who continue to want to be fooled, that the few making the millions are interested in culture, our culture.
The sellers of our passports, as evident by the wealth of a few, in quick, quick time, in the business, taking control.
Everybody get a chicken bone so they smiling
Lol.so that’s the anonymous donor
so as people ask vince where all the money from the passport sales going they jump in and sponsor queen contestants. so now they will say one hundred thousand went into sponsoring the contestants only twentyfour million left….smh
TELL DOTISH=Being ME/IT LOL
Local business don’t hv money it seems… Only companies that selling passport that can sponsor…
lol EVEN B4 I CAN READ PEEPS GIVING THEIR SERIOUS DEDUCTIONS.
Lol LMAO no surprise. Henderson just told us $124 million was collected in 6 months where as they told us 25 million was obtained in a yr lol!
Biggest part of the sponsor ship comes from passport agents. THAT WAS ASUUGESTION LONG AGO. LMAO
They just confirmed any doubt.
That having been settled isn’t it not time not to make a wide net arrest of all these passport agents, Ministers the entire cabinet? Sav ( the president) would have taken own the gov’t if he wasn’t part of the Ponsi scheme.
Dr .Darroux just mentioned an agreement to treat eye diseases. Another confirmation that we have thousands of blind people on the island of DA. Maybe they are not blind just so ,wicked, opportunistic tolerant bc of poverty?
Something is wrong with us as a people. You know what sickening about it all? There are so many educated, studiated people on island who prefer the wrong kind of bouef indulgence.
X-mas & New years just done. Carnival is here a time to play Ostrich by intoxication as their is little sand anywhere on island.
We will get our ashes on Feb 10-2016 drink cooling and back to square 1. Easter is round the corner, fete innocent, Fishermen feast, wet T-shirt jam etc b4 we know it it’s Creole festival ,independence, x-mas once more, Mass again people begin to write songs come home for mass then run back to make some more money doing taxes and life goes on.
We have to be dumb. The definition of madness is………………………………………………………….
@ R we dumb 4 real… yes, yes u are.
The passport selling agents are not the govt.
ya’ll need to learn a thing or two before posting nonsense
Agents do not work for nothing. Where money is concerned, they do charge an exorbitant amount. They do nothing for nothing and expect much, a certain percentage of the sale.
They do the advertisement and relevant work. They must be paid and expect it. Is there anyone conducting business on behalf of others not entitled to be paid, to receive a certain percentage? Put yourselves in their position. Some of you must broaden your minds and cease your negativity.
Being ME, You playing dumb? Sparrow is here, his song carnival in 68-one line says (“I know U like plenty rum so U better come……………..” u like rum? Who hand picks the Agents?
Another one of sparrow dotish married man. Dat is u married de gov’t ?
Ask Slinger he is here on island.
I’m very happy for all the girls. Thank you to all the sponsors.
To be honest, I don not know why these young ladies put themselves through that nonsense, not knowing if they will have a sponsor until the very last minute.
Obviously seeing they had no other options, the government stepped in to fill the void.
But this is just crazy to think that you might get to the end of the road and not know if you will be sponsored until the last minute.
I would not put myself through that.
These women showed they gave no class and shame and would prefer to be treated like to get a penny than to get out….. Especially this 25 year old woman…. This turns my stomach really. Women every where should really feel like dirt….
Zuma- I guess you have issues in your life that are urgently needed to be resolved. What have these woman done to you or anyone to deserve your bashing.. I guess you could go and wash your where light doesnt focus to sponsor them. You specifically target the 25 year old contestant. I guess you have no clue what the heck you are talking about. Dominican women are super special and are never dirt bt if you see dirt it is from your warped eyes the originate from, Get a ___________life and go lick your wounds of jealousy and shame.
It is my feeling even though they did not have a sponsor they would still be able to participate. They would not be left out in the cold, so-to-speak. Think beyond.
In bygone years the cost for the contestants participating was much less. $15,000 for each contestant is too much. How much the sponsors get out of it, as one previous sponsor stated?
The formality is when they are on stage, the sponsor is also mentioned, I hope. Therefore, this is advertisement for the sponsor especially if the successful contestant was the one sponsored, by that sponsor.
Do not debase it. Let me further inform you. It is fun being a Carnival Queen contestant and thereafter to the end of Carnival celebrations. For the Carnival Queen, it is the beginning for one year, while she reigns.
Dominica has beautiful women. Aside of Dominica’s scenery, why not show the world the best beauty of Dominica?
This is funny
cant wait for the comments
It depends what your mentality means by this is funny.
Use the CIP money for Dominica and Dominicans.. Now all them wood ants and wood worm coming out.. Pressure in all you tail.. We need more sponsors for more activities…..
Businesses should take hint! Leave the sponsorship for the passport sellers from now on!!
Zuma I agree. We need good roads, hospitals a decent airport, yet we have money to sponsor
queen. This passport money should be used for better things. we still want to know where the rest of the money gone.